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C Caruso

Publications and source records attributed to C Caruso.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Sharing at the major histocompatibility complex affects the secondary sex ratio in differing ways.

We analysed the effect of HLA loci on the secondary sex ratio, and investigated whether allele sharing between parents and between mother and child, or child homozygosity, affected the viability of male embryos, which are generally less resistant to unfavourable conditions during pregnancy. The sharing conditions at the B and DR loci showed significantly differing effects: HLA-B seemed to favour female births, while, in pregnancies subsequent to the first, HLA-DR seemed to favour male births. Both HLA-B and DR loci seemed to work through immunological mechanisms.

Alleles↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of high doses of peptichemio upon the humoral response to sheep erythrocytes and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to oxazolone in CBA mice.

A study has been carried out on the immunosuppressive activity of high doses of peptichemio (PTC) in CBA mice. Humoral response to sheep erythrocytes, delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone, and cellular proliferation in lymph nodes and spleen of animals sensitized with oxazolone have been investigated. The results demonstrated that PTC had a definite immunosuppressive action, as shown by the inhibition of primary response to inoculation of sheep erythrocytes, by depression of delayed hypersensitivity to oxazolone, and by marked inhibition of 125IUdr incorporation in lymph nodes of sensitized animals. It is suggested that the inhibitory action is mediated by an effect on actively proliferating B or T lymphoid cells, although involvement of macrophages cannot be ruled out.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of TLR4 receptor polymorphisms in Boutonneuse fever.

The genetics of the interaction between host and microbes plays an essential role in the survival of the individual and attainment of longevity. The activation of toll-like receptor (TLR)4 plays a key role in natural and clonotypic immune responses. We evaluated whether TLR4 genotype is a component of genetic background protective versus rickettsiosis and whether this background influences longevity. We genotyped for +896A/G TLR4 polymorphism 78 patients affected with Boutonneuse fever, 78 age-matched controls and 78 advanced age individuals from Sicily. The +869G allele, that attenuates receptor signalling, was significantly overrepresented in patients in comparison with age-matched controls. By analyzing data according to gender, this allele was significantly higher in female patients when compared to advanced age women. Pro-inflammatory responses are programmed to resist fatal infections. So, it is not surprising that the genetic background of people that survive to an advanced age may be protective against infections. However, this seems to occur in women but not in men. In a previous study, the +896G TLR4 allele was overrepresented in advanced age men and underrepresented in men affected by myocardial infarction. Thus, previous and present results tend to agree with the suggestion that men and women may follow different trajectories to reach longevity. For men it might be more important to control atherogenesis, whereas for women it might be more important to control infectious diseases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunoinflammatory activation during the acute phase of lacunar and non-lacunar ischemic stroke: association with time of onset and diabetic state.

Several studies have stressed the involvement of inflammation in the pathophysiology of acute brain ischemia, but the role of immunoinflammatory activation in diabetic stroke patients has not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of our study was to evaluate immunoinflammatory activation of acute phase of stroke in relation to time of symptoms onset, diabetic state and diagnostic subtype. We enrolled 60 patients (32 diabetics; 28 non- diabetics) with acute ischemic stroke and 123 subjects without acute ischemic stroke, and measured levels of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha IL-6, IL-10, E-selectin, P-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, VWF, 24-72 h and 7-10 days after stroke onset; TPA, PAI-1 plasma levels at 24-72h. Our stroke patients exhibited significantly higher plasma levels of cytokines, selectins, adhesion molecules and PAI-1, and diabetic stroke patients exhibited higher plasma levels of PAI-1 in comparison with non-diabetic ones. Lacunar strokes in comparison with those non-lacunar exhibited significantly lower levels of TNF-alpha and IL1-beta P-selectin and ICAM-1. Moreover, diabetic patients with lacunar strokes exhibited a minor grade of immunoinflammatory activation of the acute phase at 24-72h and 7-10 days after stroke onset. The minor grade of immunoinflammatory activation of patients with lacunar strokes, particularly diabetic ones, could be related to the minor extension of the infarct size, owing to the typical microvascular disease of diabetic subjects which could also explain the reported better outcome of this subtype of ischemic stroke.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Serum levels of soluble CD23 in patients with asthma or rhinitis monosensitive to Parietaria. Its relation to total serum IgE levels and eosinophil cationic protein during and out of the pollen season.

The diagnostic value for allergies of the low affinity IgE receptor and its soluble circulating fragment (sCD23) remains unclear. In particular, little is know about seasonal influences on serum sCD23 levels in subjects with pollen allergy. In the present study, to gain insight into pathophysiological role of sCD23, we have analyzed, in blood from patients allergic to Parietaria sCD23, IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) serum levels. IgE were assessed as atopy markers and ECP as an inflammation marker. Patients were studied during and out of pollen season, and results were compared to those obtained in nonallergic subjects. The study population included 42 nonsmoking outpatients, living in Palermo (Sicily, Italy) or in other west Sicilian towns, with a clinical diagnosis of seasonal asthma or rhinitis and monopositive skin test to Parietaria pollen. The group of asthmatic subjects consisted of 25 patients who had one or more of the usual asthma symptoms (wheezing, dyspnea, and cough) only during the pollen season. The group of rhinitis patients consisted of 17 patients, who, during pollen season, had the nasal symptoms (nasal blockage, sneezing, nasal itching, and rhinorrhoea) but no signs of asthma. As a control group, we studied 10 nonatopic subjects from laboratory staff. They had no history of seasonal or perennial rhinitis, asthma, or urticaria and had negative skin tests to a panel of allergens. Soluble CD23, IgE, and ECP were assessed in blood during and out of pollen season. Total serum IgE levels were clearly higher in atopic patients, as classically established. Concerning sCD23 serum levels, a similar pattern of results was obtained. Accordingly, significant correlations were shown between the levels of sCD23 and IgE in all groups of patients. A completely different pattern was observed by analyzing serum ECP levels because ECP levels were significantly increased only in asthmatic patients during pollen season. Accordingly, no significant correlations were observed between the levels of sCD23 and those of ECP. Identifying immune factors associated with the development of atopy can enhance our understanding of the in vivo mechanisms involved and may have utility in paradigms designed to prevent diseases. As demonstrated by the close correlation with total serum IgE values and the lack of correlation with serum ECP values, serum levels of sCD23 appear to be an additional marker for the diagnosis of atopy but not for the follow-up of allergic diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IgD serum levels are influenced by HLA-DR phenotype.

In the present paper we have evaluated IgD serum levels of 84 randomly selected HLA-typed healthy Sicilians. The values were analysed according to age, sex and HLA-DR phenotypes. No correlation between age and IgD serum levels was found in our population since all subjects were in a narrow age range. Furthermore, no significant association was found between IgD serum levels and gender of studied subjects. The evaluation of IgD serum levels according to HLA-DR phenotypes revealed that HLA-DR1 positive subjects displayed significantly higher values. These results are in agreement with previous reports showing that HLA phenotypes may be involved in the control of serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, present data strengthen our suggestion that HLA-DR1 phenotype is related to the 'high responder' immunological profile.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[HLA and sprue: a study of Sicilian families with celiac disease].

The authors have studied the HLA genotypes in 17 Sicilian coeliac children, in their parents and in their healthy brothers. A positive association has been found between coeliac disease (C.D.) and HLA antigens; this was strongest firstly for DQW2 and than for DR7 and DR3. Those antigens however do not result specific for C.D., because they were present in healty-control population too and because one coeliac patient was DQW2, DR7 and DR3 negative. A distortion of vertical transmission of HLA haplotypes has been observed in the studied patients, and this occurred for DR3/DQW2 that was transmitted mainly by paternal way. Moreover, in the healty brothers of our coeliac subjects a significant reduction of HLA antigens DQW2, DR7 and DR3 has not been found. Those observation and the finding that in our families the responsible gene for C.D. seems to have a low penetrance, should induce to search others genetic markers for coeliac disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The distribution of HLA antigens in Italy.

Human histocompatibility (HLA) gene frequencies were studied in the Italian population. A random sample of healthy individuals born in several Italian regions and provinces was studied to estimate HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR gene frequencies using the maximum likelihood method. The goodness of fit to Hardy-Weinberg proportions was evaluated by the likelihood ratio statistics. Different Italian regions and provinces show significant differences in the HLA alleles, providing further evidence for the genetic heterogeneity in the Italian population. This heterogeneity is also displayed by a synthetic geographical representation which uses colour to map the most informative gene differences. Statistically significant gametic associations between HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR loci are reported. The difference between northern and southern Italy and between continental Italy and Sardegna is clearly shown also by their heterogeneous linkage disequilibria.

Alleles↗